Outlook: With three starters and one part-time starter returning from a year ago, Stamford should be a better team than its 9-11 under-achieving squad of a year ago. The Black Knights were 8-2 at home last winter, but disappeared on the road, winning just one game -- something the Knights will have to change this year. They feature one of the FCIAC's top players in Evans, who was injury plagued last season and will have to stay healthy for the Black Knights to achieve their goals. Tiscia is a two-year starter at point and Bosse and Ellis both saw plenty of court time a year ago.

Coach's Comment: "This team will be tested right away with three very difficult games, starting with Danbury on the road, followed by New Canaan and Warren Harding at home. We will know after these games where we stand and what we have to do to reach our goals."

Trinity Catholic Crusaders

Coach/Years: Mike Walsh, 28th

2007-08 Record: 24-4, won FCIAC championship; lost 82-79 to Crosby in state Class LL championship game.

Outlook: Once again the Crusaders are loaded, only instead of stalking another FCIAC title this year's goal is plain and simple: A state championship. Baskin is one of the state's best player and Jean-Guilliaume is a point guard with a shooting guard's mentality, so offense won't be a problem. Add a bigger, better and stronger Takari Smalls, now a sophomore, and toss in transfers like Pinson and Shuler and the deadly outside shooting of Scaturcio and this year's Crusaders are as dangerous a team as Walsh has had in a while. The only question marks the team has is what kind of physical presence the team will bring after graduating most of its brawn from last season.

Coach's Comment: "There's no doubt (a state championship) is our ultimate goal. But there are other things along the way -- a city championship and, after that, an FCIAC championship."

Westhill Vikings

Coach/Years: Howard White, 6th year

2007-08 Record: 11-10, lost 84-68 to Bassick in first round of Class LL playoffs.

Outlook: The Vikings were hit hard by graduation, losing eight seniors total. Sometimes, however, addition can happen by subtraction and White is hoping this is one of those years. Westhill was forced to deal with some untimely injuries a year ago and even more untimely discipline issues, but the sixth year head coach says he's got good kids on the roster this year and trouble shouldn't be on the horizon -- except for maybe opposing offenses who will have to deal with Westhill's full-court defense. Ramirez is one of the best kept secrets in the FCIAC while both Horn and Keita are experienced athletes who will play the whole 83 feet of the court. A key to watch: Vincent Hope, a transfer from Colombia and is reportedly a point guard who will surprise some people in the league this season.

Coach's Comment: "This team is more built on quickness and defense. These kids are more motivated. They're hungrier. They come to play and they've given it their all, from day one."

Outlook: This year could have been the next step in a growing process for the King Vikings. Then three players who are probably bound for the Division 1 football ranks opted not to play this season, so King lost both athleticism and experience. Next, the injury bug hit the team with at one player lost for the season and two others dogged by injuries and coming along slowly. It's all meant for a slow start for the Vikings, who came out of the blocks with an 0-4 opening to the season. Hope, however, springs eternal as the Vikings scored 82 points in one of their losses so the ability to put the ball in the basket is there. Georges and Blanchard bring experience back into the King fold while Reggina -- kid brother to last year's best player -- has shown an ability to play the game. Plus, 6-foot-9 Arlington Hendrickson brings height to the team. Expect King to be far better in February than they are right now.

Coach's Comment: "I think by January, we'll start playing with more confidence. We definitely have some kids that have talent. I don't expect us to go undefeated the rest of the way, but I expect us to surprise some people this year."

Outlook: Stamford Academy lost five starters plus its sixth man from a year ago, so it's once again rebuilding time on North Street. Peralta and Evans are the only two returning experienced players, though a couple of other players who were academically ineligible to start the season might be back in a few weeks. How well the younger players come together will go a long way toward Stamford Academy reaching it's goal -- which is a .500 season.

Coach's Comment: "We have to run. We're small. Our center is (6-foot-2). We have a lot of Tech schools on our schedule this year, so that should help us out. We don't have a league, we're an independent and we're always the odd-man out."

* * *

Editor's Note -- The Stamford Times was unable to get any information from Wright Tech as messages left for the coach were not returned by press time.